Drier



Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Hmmullmmmllf-nn,j

W. E. PETTY.

DRIER.

APPLICATioN FILED MAYI2.1919.

1,387, 168. PanentedAug. 9,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r y of@ c w. E. PETTY.

DRIER.

APPLICATION mijn MAY 12. |919.

l ,387, 1 68 I Patented Aug. 9, 1921.l

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

PATENT, OFFICE-I WILLIAM n. artery, 'or' rnovrnnncn TOWNSHIP, BUENAVV vIs'rAco'UNT'Y, IOWA.

DRIER. Y

Application Iinea `May 12,

To ,all whom t may concern.' i Be it known that i, l/VILLIAM E. PFTTY, a citizen of the United Statesoi America, and resident of lProvidence township', Buena Vista county, Iovva,have invented a new and useful Drier, of which the 'following is a specification. y I s vThe object'of this invention' is to provide an improved construction for driers.

A further object ot this in'vention is to provide improved means 'for Ventilating a drier. i .Y f i A Jfurther object of this inventiony is to provide improved means for controlling a ventilator on a drier at the "initial end thereto. f

A further object'ot, this invention i's'to provide Aimproved means for controlling a ventilator on Aa drier at the terminal 4end thereof. i Y i urthe'r obje-etv of this invention is fto provide improved Ameans for vconstructing; a

drier vin sectionsiior conveniencel in taking dovfn and assembling and transporting, some of said sections nesting' ivithin 'each other.4 t' y Il. further objectV ofthis invention is to provide improved means for currents Within a drier.

A farther objectof this invention 'is to provide vimproved means orsuspending arf tides, such asears of corn, .Within a drier.

furtherobject of this invention 'is to provide an in'iproved construction ior th .door of a drier. f

My invention consists; in the construction, arrangement and combination of `elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by thel accompanying drawing, in Which-fv f f- F" are l is an `elevation or" one of my improved devices, the door, one of the `vlin- `ovrs, and terminal ventilator being' shown n open position. Fig. Q, is a vertical section the apparatus shovnin Fig. fr., Fig. 3 is -."an .ot the apparatus shown Yin il ig. l. "ig: horizontalsection on v.the indiv cated line 4.--4 vot- Fig. *1,1 the door being losed and the deflector being omitted. Fig.

is a bottom -plan vieiv of the-apparatus on an enlarged scale.V Fig. 6v is a diagram illustrating-fineans of separatingthe `Wall in; sections of various sizes' intojr'der thatithe rar .sections when separated may nest in Acompact form. Y Fig, Tis ,a crosssejction onag reduced deflecting air i Specification of Letters Iatent. i PEtiiellljed A1103 9, 1921.

1919. Seriana-296,314.

scale illustrating the means employed for.

suspendingy objects Within theV drier, the same means ,serving to connect sections of the Wall and roof together. Fig.- 8 is an enlarged detailY section t illustrating fthe construction of a portion of the groot and ter minallventilating devices. F ig. 9isja detail section illustrating the construction of a portion of the Wall, floor and initial venti-v lating device. Fig. l is a detail section ,illustratingthe construction of a portion ofthe Wall, floor and door, together with an initial Ventilating device loperating through the door. v

ln the construction of the apparatus vas shovvnthe floor structure is formed one section, the .Wall isforrned in threey sections, the roof is formed vin onelsection including the terminal ventilators, and said sections "are adapted to be assembled andconnected as herein described in detail to the comple-y tion or' a unitary structure having a door providing ingress and egress, various Win-,.- dovvs having .means for controlling'the `passage of airtherethrough, and Vterminal ventilators, the latterbeing operatedy by ,devicesV extending in proximity to the door.' p In addition togthese'general subdivisions `ofthe structure, a delecting device is mounted removably' and replaceably Within the Wall, spacedifrom the floor and susc'eptiblejof beingmanipulated through the doorway.' v. f

The floor structure preferably comprises a'ring member l0,"a'ngular in cross section Vand circular in plan view, `floor boards ll over-lying and. connected iny any 'suitable 'manner to said ring member and angle bars l2 arranged radiallyofand secured at their outer ends to said ring member beneath the v floor boards, said angle bars being connectdrier. The vvvall generally isl composed ot' I studding 1.6 resting on and risingfromthe floor boards ll at stated intervals, `which studding are Voverlaid on the'outside by a Y 23 Vof each vertical row of said slots.

vscreen or section of wire netting 26 is mountoverlaps both theV floor boards and the periphery of the ring member 10'. lThe wall sections preferably are secured together by the provision that adjacent marginal portions of the sheathing 17 and 18 shall overlap at the lines of separation of the sections, the overlapping portions of the sheathing being secured lby removable means suchV as Vscrews 19 extending through them and seated in studdino` 16. Thus the various sections of 4the wall may be assembled and connected as shown -in Fig. 6 and, by removing the screws 19, the several sections may be separated and transported or stored as desired. rlhe several sections of the wall preferably are secured to the floor structure in a manner to be removed and replaced relative thereto, and for this purpose l have shown, in Fig. 9, angle-irons 20, one for each studding, adapted to be placed in the'angle formed by the sheathing 18 and iioor boards 11 andlbe secured by screws 21 to the studding and sheathing and by bolts 22 to the floor structure, said bolts extending through the floor boards 11 and angle bars 12 and spaced co-incident with said studding and ano'le bars as shown in Fig. 5. `The sheat ing 17 is formed with a series of horizontal slots 23 arranged in vertical rows spaced so that said slots Vwill be located wholly between studding 16 and the lowermost slot ,in either. row is spaced above ing 18, thus forming lips or vflanges 24.'

The wall of the drier is formed with a plurality of windows 25 located in the sheathing 17 and wnolly within the spaces between the studding 16 and also located wholly in a horizontal row beneath the lowermost slot Y A ed over each window 25 and secured to the inner face of the sheathing 17 between the studding 16 for the purpose 'of Vexcluding vermin and insects from the drier. Slide bearings 27 are mounted on the outer face of the sheathing 17 on'opposite sides of each window 25 and shutters 28, one for each window, preferably made of single pieces of sheet metal, are slidingly mounted in said bearings. `Each shutter 28 is supported by a chain 29 secured at one yend thereto and ladapted to be detachably connected` the sheathing 17 and overhangs the shutterV and chain thereon for the purpose of shedding rain and snow away from the window. A'door opening is provided at a suitable point in the wall of the drier wholly between two of the studding 16 and the wall is provided with a header 32 above said opening and with sections of the sheathing 17, 18 at either end thereof. A door 88 is constructed and hinged, and may be fastened in any desiredmanner, within the door opening and said door preferably is formed of side studding 16, a sill 16 and a header 16 suitably connected with andsupporting sheets 17 and 18 of sheathingr material. The door 33 preferably is provided with a window on its sheathing section 17 and slots in its sheathing section 18 anda hole 23 in the header 16 matching a hole 32 in the header 32 when the door is closed, thus providing ventilation through said door, under control of a shutter 28 as has been described f in connection with remaining portions of the wall, the sheet 17 of sheathing "preferably overlapping marginal portions of the sheathing 0n the wall surrounding the door so as to bridge the crack of the door when the same is closed. The roof structure preferably comprises a ring member-34e, angular in cross section and adapted to rest on and bridge the spaces between the'up'per ends of the studding 16, rafters 85 mounted on and rising in an inclined plane from said ring member and a cupola surmounting said rafters, the rafters being overlaid with roofing plates 86, preferably of sheet metal connected to said rafters by standing seams. A spider is thrown across the upper end of the wall and preferably is composed of metal bars 37 either straight or bent in any suitable manner and adapted to be'connected at the center of the drier to form a unitary structure susceptible of sustaining all the weight to be applied thereto. End portions of the bars 37 preferably are twisted into a plane at rightl angles to the plan-e of the greatest* transverse diinen sion of the bar and split longitudinally, thus forming two lugs at one end of each of said bars; one lug 38 being adapted to overlie and be riveted to the ring member 34, while the other lug 39 is bent downward and' overlaps the upper portion of the inner sheathing 18 and is adapted to be secured by a screw l() ext-ending through said lug and sheathing and seated in the upper end of a studding 16. Thus provision is Vmade for strengthening the wall of the drier laterally, for strengthening the roof laterally,

for supporting objects to be dried and for connecting. said -rootjand Vwallrig'idly yet detachably.A 'It is to be understood that the spider forms apart .fo-i the 'roof structure and is removable -i'rom the wall as a part of said structure, together. with the ringmember 34; Any articles to be dried suoli `as ear `corn may be supported in any suitable inanner lon orsuspended from the spider. The cupola is constructedgenerally'y of spaced rings-41,A 42 ot substantially the `same size;

the lowermost ring being supportedby a -ring of sheet metal 43 carried by the rafters:

and Vthe uppermost ring Asupporting a ring of sheet metal 44, the latter ring of sheet'metal carrying a rooin 45 composed ott `sheets of metal arranged in conical form and connected by standing seams; there being spaced strips 46; arranged to 'connect vthe rings 4l, 42.y Angularl 'frames 47 are mount- .ed between and overlapv at the top and bottom ron the rings 4l, 42 and saidV frames Y the :ventilators are, open.

are overlaid by plates 48, thus comprising 'ai-.door ,L marginal portions. of said plates overlapping ribs on therings 41, 42. The doors are carried by vhinges 49, one hinge for each door,; secured toV the sheet metal rings 44. The door trames and doors bridge ythespaces between the vertical strips 46 and provide,` ventilators for" the 4cupola. A

screen 50, Vof annular torni,- is' mounted within and carried bythe rings 4l .and 42 Vand vextends across thegopenings provided forv the ventilator'l doors, thus prevent the entrance oi'verminfbirds and other objectionable life to the drierY from-the vtop when Ropes 5l, one ropeior each ventilator, are secured at their outer ends to eyes 52 located in the center of the lower portion-.ot the respective ren- `tilators and said ropesextend from said eyes through guidingleyes 53 arranged at the eave ott-hel 'rooii 45,-thenoe through notches in Vthe sheet metalli-ing V44.' and thence throughthe spiderA and are-joined pif'eierably vbeneath said spiderito 'alrope V54carriedto a -cleat 55 on the Vwall ofthe drier adjacentyto the doorway therein. It is .the function et; the ropes 5lY and 54 .to open the ventilator` doors and hold them open when desired and similar ropes 51, are.con. nected to said yentilator doors on' the inside and extend to la similar cleaton the .opposite side of the doorway for the purposeweiE clos- 'ing the ventilator doors; and holding them closed when desired; 'the means tor openr ing closingthe ventilators being alternatelyv4 operated manually. Sometimes it is desirablefto supplyfartiiicial heat to the drier and to that end angle-irons 5.6 may be secured to the studding and extend on the inside ot-thesheathing v18 in anl annular row immediately below the lowermostslots 23; and a detlector formed of opposing and mating leaves 57, 58 of sheet metal, is mounted horizontally in the drier and rests In practical use theapparatus may beemployed for drying -articles or objects, for

smoking meat .or for storing. various kinds 'of merchandise. When-the apparatus is'em- 1 ployed as a drier or for smoking-meat the obgects or articles preferably areV suspended from the bars 37 of the spider and out ofcontact with the wall. .Any suitable-means may be employed for suspending thearticles and numerous examples thereof related to seed corn are now common and well known. Ordinarily it is suilicient to suspend the arti# cleswithin the drier, open the ventilator doors in the cupola, closethe door 33 and open a suioient'number of windows to admit air to the apparatus-- They air is admitted vthrough the windows to the space between the sheathing of thek walls, `passesv'thence through slots 23 to the interior ofthe drier,

rises around and in contact-withthe. objects to be driedl and passesv of'f through-the ven- .tilat-ors, normal and sluggish circulation oft resting on the floor.

air being maintained'thrcugh the courseA j ust described by' reason of f the draftv created through difference in'altitude of the Windows and cupola; The airvcurrents .through Ythe, drier may be regulated by closing to any desired degree the windows and ventilator doors selectively.

When the objects to be dried are soit and contain considerable .moisture it sometimes is Vdesirable to apply'artiiicial heat Yto warm iio the air currents or raise the temperature with'- i yin the drier. j In such event the members 57,

7 58 are vinserted one yat atinie throughy the doorway and positionedas shown in Fig.-2,-

a'space existing between the rini oi the de-Y iector andthe adgacent sheathing V18. -A lamp ot common form may be located in a well-known manner on Athe center -off the` fioor oi vhe drier nid direct the 'discharge from its flue against the apex ot' the deiiector to the end or" establishing and maintaining "heated air. currents through the space suricunding the deiiector, which# air currents yjoin witlilnormal air currents enteringthe Y drier, as above described, and. raise the temperature and reducethe humidity thereof to the end of more rapidly drying the contents oi the apparatus. Ventilation is provided for the lamp beneath the deflector by leale iisY age of air through the joint between the walls and floor oit the device, there being no effort made to have said joint air tight.

.The detlector may be omitted and tire pots containing smoking elements may be ai'ranged on the floor oit the drier when it is desired to cure meat in the apliiaratus.

lola-im as inT7 invention-'- 1. drier 'provined with walls consisting or inner and outer shells and `cross members between them forming a series olf separated intervening ilues, a central top ventilator, the interior being' divided by a horizontal deliector to form an upper storage compartment and a lower heating compartment in communication at the periphery A ot the de- Y 'lcctor, a portion ot the wall between two ot said cross members and including less than the lull height oi" the wall being hingedly mounted to forni an entrance door, communication being provided between the top of* the flue in said hingedly mounted portion and the tine in the remaining portion olf the wall above the saine, each line, including the door portion, being provided in its outer s iell near the bottoni with screened air inlet openings and also being provided in its inner shell with liorizontalslots ailording com muiiication with said storage compartment. 2. drier provided with walls consisting of inner and outer shells and cross members between them forming a series of separated intervening tlues, a central top ventilator, the inte 'ior being divided by ahorizontal del'lec'tor to torni an upper storage comparment and a lower heating compartment in communication at the periphery of the delector, said deflector being inclined Yfrom its center upwardly to its periphery, a portion ol: the wall between two of said cross inembers and including less than the full height orn the wall being hingedly mounted to form an entrance door, communication being provided between the top of the flue in said liii'igedly mounted portion and the flue in the remaining portion olthe wall'above the saine, each i'lue, including the door portion, being provided in its outer shell near the bottom with screened air inlet openings and also being provided in its inner shell with horizontal slots affording'` communication with said storage compartment. Y A

3. n. drier provided with walls consisting ot inner andoiiter shells and cross members between them toi-ming a series ot' separater intervening rines, a central top ventilator, the interior being divided by a horizontal deilector to Jiiorm an upper storage compai't- Y `tlector, a portion of thewall between two ol of the flue in said hingedly mounted portion and the llue in the remaining portion of the wall above the saine, each liue, including the door portion, being provided in its; inner shell with" horizontal slots affording communication with said Ystorage compartment and also being provided in its outer portion with screened ai'r inletJv openings, and dainpers slidingly mounted on said outer shell and adapted to close said screened openings.

a. A drier provided with walls consisting of inner and outer shells and cross members between them forming a seriesrot separated intervening flues, a central top ventilator, the interior being divided by a horizontal detleetor to form an upper storage compartment and a lower heating compartment in communication lat the periphery yof said deileetoi', a. portion of the Vwall between two-of said cross members and including less than the full height of said wall being hingedly Amounted to form an entrance door, communication being' provided between the top` of the lue in said hingedly mounted portion and the flue in the remaining portion of the wall above the same, each flue, including the door portion, being provided in its outer shell near the bottom with screened air inlet openings. and also being provided in its inner shell with horizontal slots attording communication with said storage 1 compartment, portions of the inner shell'eX-y tending upwardly and inwardlyV partially across said slots.`

A drier according to claim 1 and distinguished in this: that the top ventilator` is lormed with screened openings and closing doors are hingedly mounted on saidV top iooj and adapted to close said screened lopenings `at times. l

6. A drier according to claim 1 and distinguished in this: that the wall is'formed in separable sections adapted to be assembled and secured to a iioor and the central topV ventilator is Yseparately formed and adapted to be assembled on the wall. Y'

7. A drier according Yto claim 1 and dis tinguished in this: that the` drier is provided with a licor separately 'formedyand adapted to support the wall in detachable relation, said floor being formed with radial angle bars rigidly connected and adapted to support and brace the body of the floor. Y

Signed at Des Moines, in the county ofr Poll; and State of' lowa, this 23rd dayrof April, 1919. *e

VVILLIAM'E. PETTY. e 

